Tea With Rosie

Griffin Dunne has had a rather extraordinary front row seat to cultural history, while also making quite a lot of it himself. He is an actor, director, producer, and writer - a consummate storyteller.

As an actor, he gave us two of the most memorable cult films of the 1980s, An American Werewolf in London and Martin Scorsese’s After Hours, which he also produced and which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Further credits include Quiz Show, Dallas Buyers Club, This Is Us, Succession, Only Murders in the Building.

Directing credits include Addicted to Love, Practical Magic and the deeply personal documentary Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, about his aunt, one of the most important writers of the 20th century.

His memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club, is a New York Times bestseller - a beautiful, funny and heart shattering account of growing up within a remarkable generation of people who helped define Hollywood and literary New York as we know them.

In this conversation, Griffin shares incredible stories about his life and work, including delving into his family's wild history, grief, an audition gone wrong in the best way, ayahuasca, and how learning to lie “like a serial killer” prepared him for the world of showbusiness.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

3:17 First memories of tea and his experience of corporal punishment at school

6:10 What getting away with things taught him about showbiz

7:13 His memoir and the family he held together

9:09 Why recording the audiobook was surprisingly emotional

11:34 His great-uncle's scandalous death

14:03 Directing The Center Will Not Hold for his aunt Joan Didion

16:28 Musings on grief etiquette

18:54 His worst advice from someone in power

20:19 Doors he walked through, and relationships cut short

21:57 What stays the same even with all the ugliness in the world: humanity

23:24 An acting dry spell and the terrible audition that changed everything

27:35 Carrie Fisher and career envy

28:33 Down the rabbit hole: ayahuasca

31:02 The challenge of writing fiction

33:53 Dancing when nobody's watching

35:46 Goodbyes

LINKS & MENTIONS

Griffin on IMDB

Instagram: @griffindunne

CONNECT

Website

Substack

Instagram: @teawithrosieconversations | @rosiefellner

TikTok

CREDITS

Host & Producer: Rosie Fellner

Guest: Griffin Dunne

Director: Gillian MacGregor

Writer: Neil K Lory

Music: James Edward Barker

Stills Photographer: Bob Foster

CONVERSATION

Director of Photography: Conor Boru

Camera Operator: Dom Lenoir

Producer’s Assistant: Cassia Wijay

TITLE SEQUENCE & SPONSOR CREDITS

Director of Photography: Willow Bidwell

Camera Assistant: Alex Hageman

Hair & Make Up: Jolanda Coetzer

Producer's Assistant: Robin Stewart

Location: The Portobello Hotel

Episode Sponsor: Mackenzie-Childs

With thanks to Fortnum & Mason

Megan Smart is a brilliant Australian actress and filmmaker who knew she wanted to act from the grand old age of five. She landed her first film - Simon Baker’s Breath - from her very first audition before she’d even graduated drama school, and since then, she’s starred in Wakefield, Amazon Prime’s wonderfully unhinged Class of ’07 and Black Snow opposite Travis Fimmel. She currently stars alongside Sex Education’s Asa Butterfield in the hilarious comedy-horror Gnomes on Disney+

We chat about the extreme highs and lows of the film industry, how discipline is the only thing you have control over, and why impatience can be an asset. We also delve into her journey of self-discovery when she moved from Australia to London, and the exhilarating moment she found she’d been chosen for an acting job - but had just four hours to get to the airport!

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro

01:50 - Rosie’ choice of tea for Megan: Queen Anne

02:27 - Megan’s tea memories: her father and British family roots

03:44 - Meeting her fiancé Sam in a London bar - “so old fashioned”

04:51 - Drama school as Megan’s “wonderland”

05:42 - Her new TV show Gnomes - “Hot fuzz meets Gremlins”

07:31 - The worst advice Megan has received: be patient and wait

08:49 - Learning not to make herself smaller for other people

11:20 - The one thing actors can control: how hard they work

15:08 - Her setbacks getting into drama school

17:40 - Voiceover work on The Blood of Dawnwalker and the unexpected accent pivot

19:20 - Saying no can matter as much as saying yes

20:48 - The “dark person” she once thought she was

21:53 - A fresh start in London and choosing her own story

23:21 - Knowing she was born to tell stories

24:10 - Exploring directing and building projects of her own

24:53 - The uncertainty and exhilaration of acting work

26:20 - What she does when nobody is watching

27:04 - Quickfire tea etiquette

LINKS & MENTIONS

Megan's IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6024352/

Megan's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesmartmegan/

CONNECT

Website: https://www.teawithrosieconversations.com/

Substack: https://teawithrosieconversations.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teawithrosieconversations/ | https://www.instagram.com/rosiefellner/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teawithrosieconversation

CREDITS

Host & Producer: Rosie Fellner

Guest: Megan Smart

Director: Gillian MacGregor

Writer: Neil K Lory

Music: James Edward Barker

Stills Photographer: Bob Foster

CONVERSATION

Director of Photography: Conor Boru

Camera Operator: Dom Lenoir

TITLE SEQUENCE & SPONSOR CREDITS

Director of Photography: Willow Bidwell

Camera Assistant: Alex Hageman

Hair & Make Up: Jolanda Coetzer

Producer's Assistant: Robin Stewart

Location: The Portobello Hotel

Episode Sponsor: Mackenzie-Childs

With thanks to Fortnum & Mason https://www.fortnumandmason.com/

Shelley Conn is rather marvellous. An exceptionally talented and prolific actress, Shelley’s career spans film, TV and theatre. Recently, she was Lady Mary Sharma in Bridgerton - a mother navigating a world that wasn’t built for her daughters, Dean Shetty in Gen V, Isabella in Love Sarah and is soon to be seen in ITV’s upcoming series Adultery alongside Dominic Cooper and Romla Garai.

I met Shelley… let’s just say a few years ago… on a TV show called Down to Earth and it felt like meeting a long-lost sister. Shelley has real magic. She’s ethereal, deeply present, and completely without artifice.

In this new episode of Tea With Rosie, Shelley reveals what she’s learning from the new generation of young women, the heartache that made her look inwards, and how motherhood changes everything.

This episode of Tea With Rosie is sponsored by Mackenzie-Childs, https://www.mackenzie-childs.com/

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro

00:18 - Welcome to Tea With Rosie

02:53 - Rosie chooses Lapsang Souchong for Shelley

03:55 - Shelley’s first tea memories - “picnic coffee”

05:58 - Getting lost at a phone-free night club

07:21 - How motherhood changes your world

08:48 - The pressure to make yourself smaller - and why Shelley won’t do that anymore

11:24 - “Get your kit off” - why intimacy coordinators matter

14:20 - Finding a sense of self after tragedy

16:06 - Turning pain into soul searching

16:57 - Shelley’s support after Rosie’s bereavement

18:21 - The wonderland of having a family

20:31 - Taking risks and trusting there will always be another chance

23:05 - The academic life Shelley once imagined

25:12 - Shelley as Elphaba in Wicked?

26:25 - Rosie’s horrible Dirty Dancing audition

30:02 - Singing and dancing when nobody’s watching - but they can probably still hear you!

31:07 - Quick-fire tea etiquette

LINKS & MENTIONS

Find Shelley on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0174909/

Follow Shelley on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theshelleyconn/

CONNECT

Website: https://www.teawithrosieconversations.com/

Substack: https://teawithrosieconversations.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teawithrosieconversations/ | https://www.instagram.com/rosiefellner/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teawithrosieconversation

CREDITS

Host & Producer: Rosie Fellner

Guest: Shelley Conn

Director: Gillian MacGregor

Writer: Neil K Lory

Director of Photography: Willow Bidwell

Camera Assistant: Alex Hageman

Sound Recordist: Dom Lenoir

Hair & Make Up: Jolanda Coetzer

Music: James Edward Barker

Producer's Assistant: Robin Stewart

Filming Location: The Portobello Hotel

Stills Photographer: Bob Foster

Episode Sponsor: Mackenzie-Childs

With thanks to Fortnum & Mason https://www.fortnumandmason.com/

James D'Arcy is a rather fantastic actor. I first met him years ago on a movie called Age of Heroes and was struck by his generosity, talent and sense of fun. You’ll know him from Master and Commander, Dunkirk, Oppenheimer, and his longstanding portrayal of Edwin Jarvis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe including in the upcoming Vision Quest. He even found time in his busy schedule to turn his hand to writing and directing Made in Italy, a beautiful film starring Liam Neeson.

In this episode of Tea With Rosie, James discusses the well-meaning career advice that backfired into motivation, how loss and discomfort can become sources of growth, and how marriage and fatherhood changed his life.

This episode of Tea With Rosie is sponsored by Mackenzie-Childs, https://www.mackenzie-childs.com/

CHAPTERS

00:00 — Intro
01:42 — Olivia Colman’s genius
03:43 — James has a shocking confession
04:43 — Introducing James to tea with Darjeeling - the champagne of teas
06:17 — His first memory of tea at a rather brutal French lesson
09:46 — The realities of ageing
11:42 — Making yourself smaller to fit other’s people’s idea of you
13:48 — The well-meaning career advice that spurred him on
16:55 — James was almost known by another name
19:15 — Losing his father at six and how that shaped his life
19:55 — “Another f***ing growth opportunity"
21:10 — Dark periods and getting to the lightness on the other side
22:20 — How meeting his wife changed his mind about relationships
24:29 — The challenges of being an actor and also a parent
26:11 — The version of James that never made it
28:13 — Tea etiquette quickfire questions

LINKS & MENTIONS

Find James on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0195439/
Follow James on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesdarcy/
Made in Italy: https://www.madeinitaly.movie/

CONNECT

Website: https://www.teawithrosieconversations.com/
Substack: https://teawithrosieconversations.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teawithrosieconversations/ | https://www.instagram.com/rosiefellner/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teawithrosieconversation

CREDITS

Host & Producer: Rosie Fellner
Guest: James D’Arcy
Director: Gillian MacGregor
Writer: Neil K Lory
Director of Photography: Willow Bidwell
Camera Assistant: Alex Hageman
Hair & Make Up: Jolanda Coetzer
Music: James Edward Barker
Producer's Assistant: Robin Stewart
Filming Location: The Portobello Hotel
Stills Photographer: Bob Foster
Episode Sponsor: Mackenzie-Childs
With thanks to Fortnum & Mason https://www.fortnumandmason.com/

Millie Brady has that rare quality of magnetism - you are instantly captivated from the first time you see her, whether that’s in The Queens Gambit, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, or as Æthelflæd in The Last Kingdom.

Like a cup of Fortnum & Mason’s Classic Earl Grey, Millie is refined and unmistakably classic, but with a simmering depth and holds one’s attention completely.

In this episode Millie discusses the career pivot that led her into acting, what grew out of heartbreak, and the friendships that have shaped her life.

This episode of Tea With Rosie is sponsored by Mackenzie-Childs, https://www.mackenzie-childs.com/

The word “icon” is thrown around a lot these days, but my guest this week is one of the very few actually worthy of the title. Brian Cox is without doubt one of the most acclaimed and respected actors in the world. With a career spanning over six decades across theatre, film and television.

In a world where authenticity often takes a backseat, Brian is a pillar of truth in his life and art. In an incredibly candid conversation, he shares his early memories of family gatherings and the (very!) early performances that laid the foundation for his illustrious career. We touch on Succession, his challenging new role in Dexter: Resurrection and a particularly exhausting theatre performance many years ago.

I’m so honoured to have had such a candid conversation with Brian and found myself laughing one moment, then so incredibly moved the next. I hope you enjoy the insight into this revered and loved British actor and incredible human being.

This episode of Tea With Rosie is sponsored by Mackenzie-Childs, https://www.mackenzie-childs.com/

LINKS & MENTIONS

Brian Cox on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004051/
Follow Brian on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coxusa/

CONNECT

Website: https://www.teawithrosieconversations.com/
Substack: https://teawithrosieconversations.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teawithrosieconversations/ | https://www.instagram.com/rosiefellner/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teawithrosieconversation

Eve is, was, and always will be That Girl.

A multi-platinum, two-time Grammy award winning artist, Emmy nominated talk-show host, author, actress, and producer, Eve is a force to be reckoned with.

In this first episode Eve chats with Rosie about rejection, resilience, fame, motherhood, and building a life on her own terms.

This episode is sponsored by Mackenzie-Childs.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction to Eve's inspiring journey

01:56 - Early memories of family and tea

04:19 - Travel, and why England feels like home

05:10 - Turning hardship into drive

07:55 - What stayed the same through every change: resilience

09:39 - Rap battles, fearlessness, and “this has to happen”

11:46 - Making herself smaller for friends and relationships

14:43 - Noticing the behaviour of powerful people and why she’d never copy it

15:35 - Her reaction to receiving the retrospective Grammy Award

16:33 - What grew from something that almost broke her

17:40 - “Do it for the plot”

18:37 - Meeting Dr.Dre

19:14 - Why financial independence has always mattered

20:27 - Trying on personas and leaving past versions behind

21:02 - Is she a witch? Why she believes in magic

22:06 - Breathe and Believe: her new wellness business built around pause

23:32 - What she’d do if nobody was watching

25:13 - Touring, motherhood, and work/life balance

26:59 - The “no” from an A&R guy that bothered her for years

28:10 - Fame’s downside

29:15 - Acting and impostor syndrome

30:24 - Closing thanks and sign-off

LINKS & MENTIONS

Eve’s memoir, Who’s That Girl is published by Harper Collins in the UK and is available now.

Breathe & Believe Global: Website

Follow Eve on Instagram: @therealeve

Find tickets for Eve’s tour here.

CONNECT

Website: https://www.teawithrosieconversations.com/

Substack: https://teawithrosieconversations.substack.com/

Instagram: @teawithrosieconversations | @rosiefellner

TikTok: @teawithrosieconversation

CREDITS

Host & Producer: Rosie Fellner

Guest: Eve Cooper

Director: Gillian MacGregor

Writer: Neil K Lory

Director of Photography: Willow Bidwell

Camera Assistant: Alex Hageman

Hair & Make Up: Jolanda Coetzer

Music: James Edward Barker

Producer's Assistant: Robin Stewart

Filming Location: The Portobello Hotel

Stills Photographer: Bob Foster

Episode Sponsor: Mackenzie-Childs

With thanks to Fortnum & Mason https://www.fortnumandmason.com/

Tea With Rosie is a new podcast hosted by actress & producer Rosie Fellner.

Coming soon!

Social links:

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teawithrosieconversations/

Rosie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosiefellner

Website:

https://www.rosiefellner.com